Why Local Matters

Live local, shop ‘Noke!

Whether you’re a Roanoke native or just visiting, we’re here to help you connect with the local businesses that make Roanoke unique. However, there’s more to it than that.

Our goal is to play a small part in helping Roanoke become a city defined by its intentional support of local businesses. There are lots of reasons to prioritize shopping at local businesses, but here are a few we like to highlight.

Local businesses reinvest financially into our local economy.

- Local retailers return 52% of their revenue to the local economy, compared to just 14% for chain retailers – 🔗

- Small independent retailers return more than three times as much money per dollar of sales to the local economy than chain competitors – 🔗

Locally owned businesses are better for the local labor market

- Areas with a higher density of small, locally owned businesses experience greater per capita income growth – 🔗

- For every new retail job created by Walmart, 1.4 jobs are lost as existing businesses downsize or close. – 🔗

- In times of high unemployment, small businesses both retain and create more jobs than large firms do. – 🔗

Local businesses are invested in the well-being of our community

- 80% of small businesses give back to the community by sponsoring local events, donating to local non-profits, or offering discounts to groups like Veterans – 🔗

- Small businesses make up to 136% more charitable donations per employee than businesses with 500-or-more employees. – 🔗

Local businesses highlight what makes Roanoke unique

Our local businesses are a part of what defines the character and culture of our city. This increases community pride and local distinctiveness, both of which are important drivers of place attachment and tourism.

Local businesses are better for a strong middle-class

The increasing size of corporations is driving inequality, while local and dispersed business ownership strengthens the middle class. – 🔗

A culture of support for local businesses will foster new local businesses

Starting a small business is a lot of work and includes taking a big risk. However, a place with a culture for intentionally supporting small businesses can ease some of that stress. It can encourage new individuals to start a business that they are passionate about while also improving our community.

One final thought. Life is expensive. For many individuals and families there is no choice but to shop where they can find products at the cheapest price. We will not judge anyone for where they shop.

However, we question our cultural focus on always finding the lowest price when that lower price comes at a cost to our community. For those who are able, when you are able, we encourage you to intentionally choose to shop local – knowing that intentionally choosing to do so has positive ripple effects which make Roanoke a wonderful city to call home.